Wine Review - Amarone Della Valpolicella classico '01, Guiseppe Campagnola***** Chefette has been making me some nice dinners as part of her ongoing training. Last night we had grilled tournedos of venison with roasted red pepper sauce, baked potatoes stuffed with mushrooms and onions, chantanay carrots and roast parsnips. To go with a serious dinner I thought I had better raid the cellar and have a serious wine. This rich, smooth 15% abv beast of a wine qualifies as serious. For those who don't know, the grapes used in amarone are air dried on mats before being crushed, this means each grape produces only a tiny amount a liquid but masses of flavour, this also makes Amarone rather expensive. This is a rich, deeply flavoured, super smooth wine. It has a warm and open nose leading to a complex wine with hints of dark cherries and raisins and a slight note of almonds. It's fantastic. I would recommend it with any game, steak or mature cheddar/parmesan. The tannins are supple and the wine is drinkable now, I am told that the wine will cellar for quite some time, with that abv I'm not surprised. Amarone Classico Guiseppe Campagnola is available from Laithwaites at about £18 a bottle.